April 19, Tuesday - SUNNY/FOGGY WEATHER, EARLY MORNING, DOJIMA HOUSEHOLD

Tsuyoi had taken another shower in the morning, still feeling dirty from fighting Shadow Yukiko.

His phone vibrated on his desk, so he picked it up.

"Hello..." Margaret's voice rang over the phone.

"Margaret?" Tsuyoi asked. "How do have my cell number?"

He heard a flip of a page over the phone - most likely Margaret's compendium.

Margaret laughed over the phone. "That's not important now. I realize this is sudden, but it's Margaret. We met at the Velvet Room a few days ago. There is one important point I forgot to warn you about, so I thought it best to contact you immediately. The bonds created through Social Links are another important means of strengthening the powers of your Persona..." She said over the phone.

"But, I wouldn't have time." Tsuyoi argued. "I have to solve the case.

He heard another flip of the strange woman's compendium. "You may be pressed for time, devoting yourself to battles will not quench your heart's yearnings. Do not hasten heedlessly through your days, and remember the importance of moving at a sustainable pace. Please remember that. Also remember that I care for..." She pauses. "Well then, if you'll excuse me..."

The call ended.

Was...

Was there a phone in the Velvet Room...?

Never mind that, he had to take Margaret's advice to heart. She, along with Igor, are helping him throughout the case and...

Wait, are Margaret and Igor members of The Investigation Team?

Ugh, it's way to early in the morning for Tsuyoi to have these questions.

April 19, Tuesday - SUNNY/FOGGY WEATHER, EARLY MORNING,
WALKING TO SCHOOL

Tsuyoi disliked the fact he wasn't walking to school with Yosuke. And Chie.

They were his only 'friends' at Yasogami. And even then, he only knows their weak points and that they can fight in battle.

Tsuyoi looked up ahead, ignoring his loneliness.

An upperclassmen stood next to a junior in a track suit, talking.

"Yo." The junior blurted.

"Oh, what's up? You got morning practice?" The upperclassman chirped.

"You know how guys can join the sports clubs starting today, right?" A sports club? "I thought that maybe if I ran around a little, that would be some good promotion."

"Dude..." The upperclassmen snickered. "If you run around in that, how're people gonna know which club you're in?"

The junior shrugged. "...I didn't think about that."

"Haha! That's classic you. I hope our club gets some fresh blood, too. It gets everyone excited!"

The junior looked at the other boy. "Are you guys not going to try and get people to sign up?"

The other placed a hand under his chin. "I don't know about that. Everyone's saying they want a girl to be our manager, though." He paused, which gave Tsuyoi ample time to think 'which girl is going managing the sports club?'. "Oh, hey! Let's stop by the shrine in the shopping district on our way home today. Might as well pray for some newcomers."

"We're leaving that up to God now? Well, all right." The junior groaned. "Oh yeah, did you hear that rumor? About the thing that lives at the shrine?"

The upperclassman smiled. "I did! I wonder if it's true."

EARLY MORNING -> AFTER SCHOOL

Tsuyoi had found himself in a bind.

Yosuke, surprisingly, was not at school. He had gotten a text from Yosuke early in the day — essentially saying "I'm at the doctors".

Which Tsuyoi immediately felt guilty about, considering he now leads the group that caused that injury.

...Tsuyoi also recalled the conversation he had with Margaret.

He needs to join a sports club.

CLASSROOM -> FACULTY OFFICE

Tsuyoi entered the faculty office, and he was made immediately uncomfortable seeing Morooka-sensei there.

"Sensei," Tsuyoi said maturely. "I wish to join a sports club."

"Ehhh?" Morooka chimed. "You want to join a sports club?"

Tsuyoi smiles. "Yes, sign-ups are apparently today..." Tsuyoi trailed off. "I just want something to do after school."

Morooka smirked. "Ohhh, no! I know what you're really after! You're just trawling for girls, aren't you!?" He snapped. "Admit it! Listen up! A club is supposed to be..."

"Sensei." Tsuyoi said calmly. "I simply want to join a sports club- plus, I'm not interested in girls." He paused. Well, it's not that I'm not interested in girls, it's just that I'm not ready to date a girl. "...Well, it's not that I'm not interested, but rather, I can't date someone I will only know for a year and..." He blushed. "I'll stop talking."

Morooka sighed. "So, still want to join a sports club?"

"Absolutely."

"Trying to break a youthful sweat, are you!? You can join either the soccer club or the basketball club. After leaving the faculty office, make a left, and go through the exit down the hall to get to where the sports clubs meet!" Morooka explained, in his normal curt way. "By the way, club days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday! Sports clubs don't meet on rainy days! Got it!?"

"...Yes." Tsuyoi was close to blowing up.

FACULTY OFFICE -> GYMNASIUM

Tsuyoi stood next to Mr. Kondo, who apparently oversaw the sports club - and led the basketball club? Tsuyoi wasn't 100% sure.

By the way, Tsuyoi joined basketball. He assumed it was like baseball - which he did when he was younger. Both sports had balls, balls that you played with hands - albeit, baseball had wooded bats.

"...Alright guys, listen up!" Mr. Kondo called attention to the twelve members of the basketball team. "You have a new teammate! You all know Tsuyoi Birodo, right. He's from the city, so I'm sure he's got some moves he's just waiting to show off! I'd say this season is in the bag!"

Tsuyoi blushed. "No, I've done baseball all my childhood. I'm no good, the only reason why I'm joining is..." I need to be here so people don't wonder why I have a sports bag with me at Junes. "...I thought I should try something new."

Later

Tsuyoi, as he guessed it, sucked at basketball. There's a difference between swinging a wooden bat and throwing an orange ball around for an hour and a half.

He groaned.

"Hey." Tsuyoi heard the voice of the senior, the skinny one with whispery blue hair.

"What?" Tsuyoi asked, questioningly.

"Whadja think of your first day here? I'm Kou Ichijo. Third year." The senior - Kou - gave a pleasant smile. "Nice to meet ya. Good to see someone else take an interest in the team."

Tsuyoi laughed. He admit, even if Kou was a guy... he was kinda cute.

Of course, Tsuyoi was only into girls. But he wasn't into the ones here.

"Kou!" He heard a firm voice snap. "Aren't you done yet?" It was the brunett in the track suit.

"Is this the new guy?" The guy asked.

Kou smiles. "Yeah, can you believe it!? He's the transfer student."

"Hmmm, that's cool. Daisuke Nagase. Nice to meet you." The bru- Daisuke introduced. "Soccer team, second year. Kou and I go way back."

"Yeah, too far back." Kou agreed. "I'm getting sick of seeing your face." The senior joked.

"Heh, did everyone take off early like usual?" Daisuke asked Kou.

"Yep. I suggested we work on rebounding, but they were all like, 'That's too tiring'. So, all we did was take a few shots..." Kou ranted, unamused by his lazyboned teammates. "Hm, but I shouldn't scare Tsuyoi with my bitching on his first day!"

Tsuyoi sighed. "It's fine. All my friends vent at me." Extremely unwilling, though.

"We've got a lot of members who don't show up to practice, but basketball's fun. You've played before, right?" Kou said, changing the topic.

"Not..." Tsuyoi sighed. "Not exactly."

"Seriously!?" Kou chirped. "Don't worry, I'll teach you all that I know."

...!?

Thou art I, I am thou...
You've yet again established another bond.
The true you, your strength that lay dormant within your heart.
This bond brings you closer to the true story.
The bond with KOU ICHIGO and DAISUKE NAGASE, the dually beloved of the STRENGTH arcana.

Thanks, Izanagi.

And then Tsuyoi snapped to reality.

Afternoon -> Evening

Tsuyoi entered the Dojima household, Nanako sitting alone watching Kamen Rider.

"Welcome back!" Nanako greeted.

Tsuyoi smiles at the seven year old.

And then he realizes it. Dojima isn't home.

Tsuyoi hears the buzz of his phone. He pulls it, and it's a text from Yosuke.

Y. Hanamura
heyyy!! dude!! im going to be at school toMorrow!!! let's hang out aftr school.
(no homo!!!!!!!!)

Tsuyoi sighed. Never change, Yosuke. Never change.

- Social Links -

Tsuyoi Birodo (The Fool) - A seventeen year old boy from Tatsumi Port City. Is living in Yasoinaba because of his mother's work. Is The Fool arcana and wields the Persona Izanagi. Izanagi - Tsuyoi's persona and of The Fool arcana. The elder god and creator of Japan and his name means "He Who Invites".

Yosuke Hanamura (The Magus) - A sixteen year old in the same class as Tsuyoi. Works at the local Junes. Is The Magus arcana and wields the persona Jiraiya. Jiraiya - Yosuke's persona and of The Magus arcana. A fabled Ninja who can turn himself into a frog.
Rank 1:
>You and Yosuke want to solve the murders.

The Investigation Team - A team of "emotionally damaged teens and a bear". (TSUYOI B., YOSUKE H., CHIE S., AND TEDDIE K.)
Rank 1:
>We are pursuing the murderer

Chie Satonaka (The Charrus) - A seventeen year old girl in Tsuyoi's class. Loves to practice Kun Fu. Is The Charrus and wields the Persona Tomoe. Tomoe - Chie's persona and of The Charrus arcana. A fabled female samurai of ancient Japan.
Rank 1:
>Chie and You are training buddies, apparently.

Yukiko Amagi - A seventeen year old girl in Tsuyoi's class. Is the future owner of the Amagi Inn. Is the High Priestess and wields the Persona Konohana Sakuya. Konohana Sakuya - Yukiko's persona and of the High Priestess arcana. She is a fabled queen of Cherry Blossoms.

Teddie Kuma - A strange bear from the TV World. Name means "Teddie Bear".
Ryotaro Dojima - Tsuyoi's uncle and police detective.
Tohru Adachi - A funny big boy and is a buddy in Tsuyoi's uncle Dojima.
Nanako Dojima - Tsuyoi's seven year old cousin.
Igor - A man helping Tsuyoi's destiny and runs the "Velvet Room".
Margaret - Igor's assistant. Seems to harbor a motherly love towards Tsuyoi and Marie.
Marie - Igor's other assistant. She has amnesia but seems to vaguely know Tsuyoi.

NEXT TIME ON PERSONA 4: THE WRITTEN

Chapter 16, Tsuyoi Birodo And Small Town Blues (Magus Rank 2).

>Yosuke is dealing with family issues and Tsuyoi honestly doesn't know what to do.